Multidirection power actuated force unit

ABSTRACT

THE DISCLOSED INVENTION PROVIDES COMBINATION PULLS THROUGH A POWER ACTUATED RAM MOUNTED ON A FORCE UNIT. THE UNIT INCLUDES A PAIR OF PARALLEL UPSTANDING POSTS WHICH ARE EACH MOUNTED ON INVERTED-V LEGS. THE PAIR OF INVERTED-V LEGS ARE, IN TURN, MOUNTED ON A BASE. A POWER ACTUATED RAM IS POSITIONED BETWEEN THE LEG PAIR WITH A MOUNTING END SECURED BETWEEN TWO LEGS OF THE INVERTEDV&#39;&#39;S BY A PIN PASSING THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE LEGS AND IN THE MOUNTING END OF THE RAM. THE OTHER END OF THE RAM IS FREE TO TRAVEL PARALLEL TO THE BASE. THE TRAVELING END OF THE RAM IS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A CHAIN WHICH IS THREADED THROUGH A PULLEY COMBINATION. ONE END OF THE CHAIN IS SECURED TO THE UNIT AT A POINT ON OR NEAR THE MOUNTING END OF THE RAM. THE OTHER END OF THE CHAIN IS PASSED OVER A FULCRUM PULLEY ON THE UPSTANDING POST AND IS SECURED TO A WORKPIECE. THE PULLS MAY BE READILY VARIED IN TRAVEL AMOUNT AND FORCE BY DIFFERENT PULLEY SIZES AND/ OR RAM MOUNTING ARRANGEMENTS. D R A W I N G

March 2, 1971 w. K. HAGERTY I MULTIDRIEC TION POWER ACTUATED FORCE UNIT Filed 061;. 28, 19 68 INVENTOR. Mil/4M AtW/Yfll/ M6607) JACKSON ;2 JONES ATTOR/VAYS.

United States Patent 3,566,667 MULTIDIRECTION POWER ACTUATED FORCE UNIT William Kenneth Hagerty, 605 E. Norwood Place, Alhambra, Calif. 91803 Filed Oct. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 771,094 Int. Cl. B21j 7/46 US. Cl. 72444 26 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosed invention provides combination pulls through a power actuated ram mounted on a force unit. The unit includes a pair of parallel upstanding posts which are each mounted on inverted-V legs. The pair of inverted-V legs are, in turn, mounted on a base. A power actuated ram is positioned between the leg pair with a mounting end secured between two legs of the inverted- Vs by a pin passing through an opening in the legs and in the mounting end of the ram. The other end of the ram is free to travel parallel to the base. The traveling end of the ram is adapted to receive a chain which is threaded through a pulley combination. One end of the chain is secured to the unit at a point on or near the mounting end of the ram. The other end of the chain is passed over a fulcrum pulley on the upstanding post and is secured to a workpiece. The pulls may be readily varied in travel amount and force by different pulley sizes and/ or ram mounting arrangements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) 'Field of the invention The field of the invention primarily relates to automobile body and frame repair and has general application for multidirection and multiforce pulls on any sheet metal or similar material.

(2) Description of the prior art The repair of damaged automobile bodies and frames is an art which requires considerable experience in the manner of force application to the damaged portions in order to restore an automobile to its normal condition. Repair is generally accomplished by holding one portion of the body (or frame) in a fixed position relative to which an opposing side of the body (or frame) is pulled back in relation to the side being held. Various holding points and pulling points are required for such repair. In addition, it is often necessary to use lower force with more travel, or higher force with less travel on certain pulls to restore the damage to the article under repair. Most prior art pulling equipment is very bulky and awkward. Typical of such bulky pulling equipment is the unit shown in FIG. 1 of patent application 3,108,629 issued on Oct. 29, 1963, to V. J. Jenkins. In Jenkins, one portion of the pulling device is fastened to the car and a chain which is driven by a ram is fastened to a portion of the car to be pulled. In such a situation the ram is mounted on the pulling device in such a fashion that considerable tension is developed within the pulling mechanism.

The above and other prior art approaches suffer from two distinct disadvantages. One disadvantage results from the fact that in the prior art pulling units the entire unit works against itself in order to apply forces to the body to be repaired. Thus, the pulling unit requires extreme strength and must include extra support at potentially weak locations on the unit. As a result of these requirements the pulling unit is extremely bulky, costly, and is Patented Mar. 2, 1971 difiicult to move about for various different pulls, as required. The unit also limits access to the area to be repaired.

A second disadvantage associated With the prior art approach, exemplified by the Jenkins patent, is that in herent tension is developed in the pulling mechanism. In the event that a holding device or chain breaks or comes loose from the body being repaired, the chain whips about with the distinct possibility of considerable danger to the artisans involved in the body repair activity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing disadvantage of the prior art may be avoided in accordance with the principles of this invention wherein a power activated unit includes a base upon which are welded or otherwise mounted a pair of parallel upstanding inverted-V legs. A pair of upstanding posts are welded or otherwise mounted on the apex of the V- legs to form a pair of rigid inverted-Y twin posts. Aligned holes are placed in various locations in the twin upstanding posts and in the leg portions thereof. A power ram, having a mounting and a traveling end, is fastened parallel to the base. The mounting end of the ram is secured by a pin which extends through an opening in the mounting end of the ram and through aligned openings in the legs of the twin posts. The upstanding portions of the twin posts include a plurality of coaxial aligned openings through which another pin may pass so as to selectively position a free-wheeling fulcrum pulley at any desired height. The fulcrum pulley includes an eye bar, in the shape of a U, which is mounted thereon, the U end of the eye bar is notched inside so as to receive a holding chain. The holding chain is fastened to a hook imbedded or otherwise located in a concrete floor. Located between the ram and the fulcrum pulley is an additional idler pulley which is also pinned in position between the twin posts. A chain which is used to apply a force to the automobile to be repaired is threaded over the fulcrum pulley, passed around the idler pulley, and in one configuration, is connected to the traveling end of the power ram.

The first power configuration (just described) provides balanced forces from the floor to the unit under repair at a 1:1 ratio. The balanced forces mean that the post is essentially neutral, in that it is not subjected to any sideloads. With my invention, if a chain breaks or becomes disconnected there is absolutely no possibility of harm to the artisan using the force mechanism.

In a second power configuration the power ram may include a power application pulley at the traveling end. The rams pulley receives the chain which passes around the pulley and is fastened to the base or to the mounting end of the ram. The use of this power pulley increases the amount of travel of the pulling chain, while at the same time it decreases the amount of pulling force. Accordingly, the pulling unit of my invention may readily be adapted to supply different forces and travels. The various openings in the twin upstanding posts of my invention provide adjustability to the height of the pulls, and further provide various combinations of pulling directions, all as described in more detail hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I discloses a perspective view of the multi-direction power actuated force unit 10 with an outer post partially broken away in order to more adequately disclose the one arrangement of pulleys and rams;

FIG. 2 discloses a perspective view of a load holder;

FIG. 2A discloses the details of a chain keeper for the load holder of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 3 discloses a spring detent, partially broken away, for the fulcrum pulley of FIG. 1.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 discloses a multidirection power actuated force unit 10. The unit includes a pair of upstanding inverted-Y posts 11 and 12 which are depicted as having upstanding portions 11A and 12A which are each welded or otherwise fastened to a pair of inverted-V spaced apart legs 11B and 12B. The legs 11B and 12B are welded or otherwise fastened to a flat base 14 which seats the unit 10 on a mounting area near a workpiece such as an automobile under repair. Base 14 includes a pair of wheels 15 which provide mobility for the entire power actuated force unit 10.

Located at the top of the upstanding posts 11A, 12A is a crossbar 13 which adds further rigidity to the spaced apart posts 11 and 12. Aligned holes such as 18, 19 and 20 are spaced at intervals along the length of the upstanding posts 11 and 12. These openings are adapted to receive a case-hardened anchor pin of sufficient length to pass through both posts and through openings in a pulley positioned therebetween. The spaced openings 18 through 20 provide flexibility in the height selected for fulcrum pulley 25. Such adjustability is necessary because in many instances the pull of a load under repair (such as an automobile) requires a varied assortment of higher and lower pulls. In FIG. 1, the workpiece under repair (such as an automobile) receives chain 30 which is fastened by any convenient means to the workpiece, and thereafter is over fulcrum pulley 25.

Fulcrum pulley is secured between posts 11 and 1 by an anchor pin 21. Anchor pins, such as 21, may be removable with a handle and an oversized washer such as that shown for anchor pin 63 in the lower right-hand portion of FIG. 1. Anchor pin 21 (partially broken away) is shown pegged through fulcrum pulley 25 in order to secure the fulcrum pulley 25 between post 11 and post 12 (partially broken away for clarity). Anchor pin 21 acts as an axle for a hub 16, FIG. 3, upon which fulcrum pulley 25 is freely rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 3, an anchor U-bar 37 for receiving an anchor chain 32 is provided with openings 39A therein, which openings 39A are welded to hub 16 on each side of pulley 25. Hub 16 rotatably supports pulley 25 for reasons discussed in more detail hereinafter.

Chain 30, after passing over fulcrum pulley 25, FIG. 1, passes around idler pulley 45. Idler pulley 45, in a similar manner, is fastened between posts 11 and 12 to legs 11B and 12B by another anchor pin 41. Chain 30, after passing around idler pulley 45, travels around substantially half of the circumference of a force pulley 55. Force pulley 55 is rotatably mounted by a sleeve or hollow shaft to a U-shaped yoke 56. Yoke 56 is threadably fastened, and travels linearly in the direction of arrow 57 when power is applied to ram 60.

Chain after passing around force pulley 55 is firmly fastened to a convenient location near the front legs of posts 11 and 12; chain 30, as shown, may be fastened to a chain receiving slot 61 located at the mounting end 62 of power ram 60. Another anchor pin 63 passes through openings in front legs 11B, 12B and through an opening in the mounting end 62 of ram 60. Pin 63 immovably secures the ram between the front legs of posts 11 and 12 such that pulley 55 moves in the direction of arrow 57 as power is applied to ram 60.

Power for ram 60 is supplied in any convenient manner. For example, ram 60 may be actuated by pressurized fluid which is applied to a control valve 73. An outlet port 72 from valve 73 is coupled to an inlet port 71 at ram 60 by a flexible hose 70. Valve 73 delivers or interrupts pressurized fluid from the compressor in accordance with whether or not the foot pedal 74 is depressed or released. Such rams and compressors are available on the mark t a d are well known in. the prior art.

Typically, a ram 60 develops as much as ten tons force when operating with standard air pressure. Along with this ten ton force, the ram normally travels a linear distance along arrow 57 of up to six inches. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1 the travel of the yoke 56 as ram 60 is actuated slowly rotates the power force pulley 55 so as to exert a pull via chain 30. Pull on chain 30' will exert approximately one-half of the force of the ram 60; however, the chain 30 will travel twice the distance and therefore twice the speed as does yoke 56 of ram 60.

An alternative to the power ram configuration shown in FIG. 1 is to secure the power pulley 55 to the back legs 11B and 12B with a suitable mounting pin passing through a central opening 56A in the yoke 56 and through holes in the back legs. In this alternative the mounting pin 63 is removed and the end 61 of the ram is allowed to travel. With this alternative configuration there is a one to one transfer of the force of the ram 60 to the pull of chain 30; i.e., the pull on chain 30 is ten tons. In this alternative configuration the chain 30 travels the same linear amount and with the same speed as does the linear movement of end 62 of ram 60.

A hooked end 34 of an anchor chain 32 is secured to an eye bolt 33 which is embedded or otherwise fastened to the floor. The remaining end of anchor chain 32 is introduced into a U-bar 37 which includes on its inner side a slot 38, FIG. 3, which grippingly receives chain 32.

The power unit 10 does not become subjected to excessive side-load forces of the type which characterize the prior art. U-bar 37 distributes one force along chain 32 to eye bolt 33. Another substantially equally balanced force is present on chain 30. As a result of these opposing forces, the main loading force on unit 10 is along the upstanding posts 11 and 12. Base 14 is selected to have sufficient area to evenly distribute this force without excessive loading on floor areas. A broken chain at either 30 or 32 results only in ram 60 dropping down on base 14. Experience has shown that there is virtually no tendency for either chain 30 or 32 to whip about if they break or become loose.

As shown in FIG. 3, a detent spring 39 is fastened to a partition 36 in U-bar 37. This detent spring is biased inwardly so that its normal operating position is to force chain 30 against pulley 25. Detent spring 39 keeps the weight of chain 30 below pulley 25 when the loose end of chain 30 is not fastened to a workpiece.

FIG. 2 discloses a work-holder pawl 75 which is mounted on an anchor pin 80. The work-holding pawl 75 is adapted to seize chain 30 and lock it in place against idler pulley 45. Thus, when a new bite, or additional travel is required, it is not necessary to relieve the tension on the workpiece and reposition the unit at a closer dis tance so that the additional pull may be exerted. In accordance with the principles of my invention the workholder pawl 75 is keyed or otherwise fastened to anchor pin so that it moves in and out from pulley 45 as handle 81 is rotated. With pawl 75 rotated into locking engagement, a link such as 30A is prevented from any further movement.

Reference to FIG. 2A discloses two separate alternative arrangements on pawl 75 for locking chain links against pulley 45. These two arrangements include a link slot 76 and a protrusion 77. The pawl 75 is slidably mounted on the shaft 75A so that either the link slot 76 or the protrusion 77 engages the load chain. Assume that the ram 60 has reached its limit of travel and it is desired to reset the ram and take up the slack in the chain by hooking a new link over the chain securing means 62 in the end of the ram. It is only necessary to slide the pawl 75 until the protrusion 77 or the link slot 76 is positioned to catch the next link and then remove the power to the ram. The chain will move toward the load only until the pawl 75 catches the next link. Thus, the pawl 75 permits the chain to be locked with a minimum movement of the chain towards the load.

The Work-holder pawl 75 is positioned slightly above the middle of idler pulley 45 and is adapted to seize the chain in such a manner that at least one-half link freedom is allowed with respect to the remaining portion of the chain. Thus, substantially all tension is locked up in the upper part of the pin which passes over fulcrum pulley 25 (FIG. 1); whereas, the lower portion of chain 30 is loose enough so that the ram may be deactivated and a new length of chain introduced in the mounting end 61. A number of individual pulls on the workpiece totalling the total amount of travel as required may thus be readily accomplished by my invention without repositioning the pull unit or relieving the tension from the workpiece. Spring 82 is connected between pin 83 and handle 81 so that when handle 81 is moved into the dashed position, pawl 75 does not interfere with movement of the chain 30 over idler pulley 81. Such freedom of movement is necessary, of course, when no tension is present on chain 30 and when the chain is being fastened to a workpiece.

It is to be understood that the foregoing features and principles of this invention are merely descriptive and that many departures and variations thereof are possible by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a power actuated unit for transmitting a pulling force to a desired load such as a damaged vehicle or the like via a pulling chain and including an anchor chain secured to an immovable point and having another anchoring end, said unit comprising:

a base which is independent of any connection members to the load to be pulled on other than the pulling chain;

a power actuated ram having first and second ends and arranged to have the distance between said ends axially varied along a predetermined longitudinal axis of the ram itself when actuated;

means for mounting the ram on the base Such that axial movement between the ends of the ram is controllably directed along said predetermined axial direction;

means for mounting a pulley on the base, to receive the pulling chain, change its direction, and impart a pulling force on the chain received by the pulley;

means for connecting the pulling chain in relation to the ram such that said axial movement of the ram imparts a force on the pulling chain; and

means for connecting the other anchoring end of the anchor chain in close proximity to the pulley for applying to said unit a restraining force substantially equal to that of the pulling force applied to the load via said pulley when the ram is actuated, whereby the forces exerted on the unit are essentially equalized.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the pulley includes means for mounting the pulley above the ram at one of a plurality of preselected heights and further including an anchor bar adapted to receive said other end of the anchor chain and means for mounting the anchor bar adjacent the pulley.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 including a power pulley secured to one end of the ram and adapted to receive the pulling chain around its periphery and wherein the means for receiving a free end of the pulling chain is mounted on the other end of the ram.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 including an idler pulley mounted between the pulley and the power pulley.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for mounting the pulley includes a pulley shaft and further including a pair of upright posts secured to the base, the posts defining a plurality of vertically spaced aligned openings therein for receiving said pulley shaft.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the anchor bar is in the form of a U-shaped bar defining a 6 pair of aligned openings in the ends thereof adapted to be mounted on the pulley shaft.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein the said end of the ram carrying the power pulley is mounted on the base.

8. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein the end of the ram remote from the power pulley is mounted on the base.

9. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein the power pulley is rotatably mounted in a yoke secured to said one end of the ram, the yoke and said other end of the ram each defining an opening therein, and wherein the means for mounting the ram on the base includes means secured to the base defining spaced openings which are aligned with the openings in the yoke and ram, and a pin adapted to be inserted through one of said set of openings to secure the yoke or said other end of the ram to the base.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9 including means secured to the base and disposed in the path of the pulling chain for preventing movement of the pulling chain in the direction of the load.

11. In a power actuated unit for transmitting a pulling force to a desired load through a load chain the combination which comprises:

a movable base which is independent of any connection members to the load to be pulled on by the load chain other than the load chain itself;

a vertically oriented support member secured to the base;

a fulcrum pulley for receiving the load chain and changing the direction thereof;

means for mounting the fulcrum pulley on said vertically oriented support member at one of a plurality of preselected positions corresponding to preselected heights above the base;

a power actuated ram having a mounting end and a traveling end;

means for centrally mounting the ram on said vertically oriented support member;

an anchor chain for restraining movement of said unit in a direction towards said load, said anchor chain being adapted to be secured to an independent stationary body;

an anchor bar adapted to receive an end of said anchor chain;

means for mounting the anchor bar on said vertically oriented support member adjacent the fulcrum puly;

load chain securing means for receiving a free end of the load chain whereby relative movement between the ends of the ram changes the length of the chain between the fulcrum pulley and the ram; and

guide means for guiding the load chain between the fulcrum pulley and the chain securing means.

12. The combination as defined in claim 11 wherein the guide means includes:

a power pulley and means for mounting the power pulley on the traveling or the mounting end of the ram; and

wherein said load chain securing means is mounted on said power actuated ram at a position remote from the power pulley.

13. The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein the guide means further includes an idler pulley mounted on said support member and positioned between the fulcrum pulley and the power pulley for guiding the load chain therebetween.

14. In a power actuated unit for transmitting a force to a desired load through a load chain the combination which comprises:

a movable base;

a pair of spaced upstanding posts secured to the base;

a fulcrum pulley for receiving the load chain and changing the direction thereof;

means for mounting the fulcrum pulley between the posts at one of a plurality of preselected heights above the base;

a power actuated ram having a mounting and a traveling end;

means for mounting the ram in a plane disposed between the posts and for securing the mounting end of the ram to the base so that the movement between the ends of the ram is directed generally parallel to the base and perpendicular to the upstanding posts;

an anchor bar adapted to receive an anchor chain;

means for mounting the anchor bar on the posts adjacent the fulcrum pulley;

load chain securing means mounted adjacent one end of the ram for receiving a free end of the load chain whereby relative movement between the ends of the ram changes the length of the chain between the fulcrum pulley and the ram;

guide means for guiding the load chain between the fulcrum pulley and the chain securing means, said guide means including a power pulley and means for mounting the power pulley on the travelling or the mounted end of the ram, and wherein the chain securing means is mounted adjacent the end of the ram remote from the power pulley;

a chain engaging pawl;

means for pivotally mounting the pawl adjacent the path of the load chain; and

means for biasing the pawl into engagement with individual links of the load chain to permit movement of the chain toward the ram and for preventing movement of the chain in the direction of the load.

15. The combination as defined in claim 14 wherein the pawl is mounted adjacent the idler pulley and including a spring for biasing the pawl against the chain on the periphery of the idler pulley.

16. The combination as defined in claim 15 wherein the pawl is slidably mounted on a shaft secured to one of the posts and defines a link slot for engaging the surface of individual links which extend on either side of the adjacent link and a protrusion spaced from the link slot for engaging the surface of individual links which extend within the adjacent link, whereby the pawl may be moved along the shaft to engage the nearest link when the power to the ram is removed.

17. The combination as defined in claim 13 wherein said vertically oriented support member includes a pair of posts each in the form of an inverted Y with the vertical leg of each post defining coaxially aligned vertical spaced apertures; and wherein the fulcrum pulley is secured between the posts by means of a pin extending through the pulley and through one set of aligned holes in the posts.

18. The combination as defined in claim 17 wherein the anchor bar has a U-shape with the legs thereof being rotatably mounted about said pin.

19. The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein the power pulley is mounted on the traveling end of the ram so that the length of the chain between the fulcrum pulley and the chain securing means changes at a rate which is equal to twice the rate of change of the linear movement between the ends of the ram.

20. The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein the power pulley is carried on the mounting end of the ram so that the length of chain between the fulcrum 6 pulley and the chain securing means changes at the same rate as the change in the linear movement between the ends of the ram.

21. In a power actuated unit for transmitting force from a load chain to an anchor chain the combination which comprises:

a movable base which is independent of any connection members to the load to be pulled on other than the load chain;

a pair of spaced upstanding posts secured to the base;

a fulcrum pulley;

means for mounting said fulcrum pulley between the posts at one of a plurality of preselected vertically spaced points above the base;

a power actuated ram having a pair of ends and being arranged to vary the distance between the ends thereof generally along a line when actuated;

means for mounting the ram on the base between the posts;

an anchor bar;

means for mounting the anchor bar on the posts adjacent the fulcrum pulley;

a power pulley;

means for mounting the power pulley on one end of the ram;

chain securing means for receiving a free end of the load chain and positioned on the end of the ram remote from the power pulley; and

means for mounting one end of the ram to the base so that movement between the ends of the ram changes the length of the chain between the fulcrum pulley and the chain securing means, wherein said anchor chain serves to restrain movement of said power actuated unit in a predetermined direction by being coupled to an independent stationary body.

22. The combination as defined in claim 21 wherein the posts are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced coaxially aligned holes and further including a pin for mounting the fulcrum pulley in alignment with one of said sets of holes.

23. The combination as defined in claim 22 wherein the anchor bar is of a U-shaped member disposed over the fulcrum pulley and rotatably mounted on said pin.

24. The combination as defined in claim 22 including an idler pulley mounted between the posts and disposed between the fulcrum and power pulleys to guide the load chain therebetween.

25. The combination as defined in claim 24 wherein the idler pulley directs the load chain in a vertical direction from the fulcrum pulley and horizontally to the power pulley.

26. The combination as defined in claim 24 including means secured to the base for releasably engaging the chain to prevent movement of the chain toward the load.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,149,660 9/1964 'Smith 72- 705 3,108,629 10/1963 Jenkins 72705 3,149,659 9/1964 Bogert 72705 1,358,396 11/1920 Robison 72705 3,340,720 9/ 1967 Chartier 72705X CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner A. L. HAVIS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 72705 

